Where does “patchwork” come from?

Patchwork derives from English patch and work, with work tracing to Old English wyrċan, Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, and Proto-Indo-European werǵ-, ultimately from the root wer- meaning to do or make.

patchwork (English): A work, such as a blanket, composed of many...

Definitions

  1. A work, such as a blanket, composed of many...

Ancestry of “patchwork”, step by step

patchwork traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via English patch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpatchA piece of cloth, or other suitable material,...
2Italianpazzocrazy, insane; madman

Words derived from “patchwork”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom →Every word from Proto-Germanic werką →